Virginia school announces new safety protocols as students return to class nearly a month after a 6-year-old allegedly shot a teacher

CNN — Students at Richneck Elementary School navigated new safety protocols as they returned to classes Monday for the first time since a 6-year-old student allegedly shot his teacher inside a classroom nearly a month ago. Newly-appointed school administrator Karen Lynch said in an email to families that the officers would be there to “assist with the transition.” “There was a lot of smiles, a lot of high-fives, some fist bumps going on,” Newport News Police Chief Steve R. Drew told CNN, adding his goal was to restore normalcy. DeDe Williams, the grandmother of a Richneck Elementary third grader, described the first day back as “overwhelming.” “It’s sad that we have to go in and see all the officers there at an elementary school with these babies,” Williams said, “but it made my heart feel better that they were there, taking it serious.” Video Ad Feedback See school board meeting where decision to cut ties with superintendent was made 03:06 - Source: CNN Student was ‘seen choking a teacher’ in kindergarten, union head alleges While police have not publicly identified the student, his family has released statements saying the boy suffers from “an acute disability.” The family has said the gun the child allegedly brought to school in his backpack – one police said was legally purchased by his mother – was secured by a trigger lock and kept on the top shelf of a closet. “What has been reported to the union is that, in his kindergarten days, he was seen choking a teacher,” Newport News Education Association James Graves said in the interview with CNN’s Brian Todd. “Today, for me and this department and I would even say for our city, was about kids getting back to school,” the police chief said, “making sure that they’re safe.” The school has compiled an Amazon wish list of items teachers have requested “to support students’ social-emotional needs post-tragedy,” a post on the school’s Facebook account said.